Strip feeding device



4 Sheets-Sheet l I vR M M W AT! mw U m M w 7 B n N m 3 7" 4 fl Y B ATTORNEY Nbv. 4, 1958 Filed March 1,1955

Nov. 4, 1958 A. w. METZNER STRIP FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1. 1955 N ll! Hlllllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR.

- ALBERT W. METZNER i mfim A TTORNE Y Nov. 4, 1958 A. w. METZNER STRIP FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 1. 1955 INVENTOR.

ALBERT w. METZNER BY ATTORNEY United States Patent STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Albert W. Metzner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The StandaEdOhRiegister Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation 0 o Application March 1, 1955, Serial No. 491,339 11 Claims. (Cl. 197-125) This invention relates to strip feeding apparatus, and more particularly to a platen assembly for use in typewriting and like machines and for substitution therein for the conventional roller platen.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as Well as the means and mode of operation of pin type strip feeding devices, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient in use, uniform in action and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to present a platen assembly making use of a novel type escalator movement pin feeding device in conjunction with a platen element adjustable in plural senses in the course of operation of the machine.

Another object of theinvention is to present a generally new platen concept in which a non-rotatable bar platen continuously is adjustable during operation of the machine to present a different surface thereof at the writing line at predetermined intervals, as for example at the time of each line spacing operation, whereby to prolong the life of the platen.

A further object of the invention is to make the operations of feeding the record strip material and of adjusting the platen separate operations carried out by separate instrumentalities.

Still another object of the invention is to effect continuing adjustment of the platen in a bodily rocking sense, accomplishing repeated oscillating movements thereof through progressive step by step increments of movement.

A still further object of the invention is to accomplish a movement of the platen as above described in conjunction with a reciprocatory movement of the platen toward and from the path of movement of the record strip material.

Still another object of the invention is to accomplish the compound movements of the platen above described from a single actuatingsource, as for example theline space mechanism of the typewriting or like machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding device embodying the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the .rnodeof operation herein set forth, or their equivalents.

inafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a platen assembly in accordance with the illustrated form of the invention, a

part of the typewriting machine in which the platen assembly is installed being shown in dotted outline;

Fig.2 is a view in front .elevationof the platen assem- M bly of Fig. 1, some portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in top elevation of the platen assembly of Fig. 1, some portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross sectiontaken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 7 is a'view in cross section taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the pin feeding devices, being taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 3, with some parts omitted;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the platen and actuating controls therefor, showing the platen advanced with respect to the writing position and substantially horizontally disposed in such position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the platen in different reciprocable and oscillatory positions of adjustment;

Fig. 11 is a detail view in cross section of the platen showing a replaceable platen element locked in place thereon; and i Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, showing the platen element released from the platen.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a part of a typewriter is shown in Fig. 1 in dotted outline with a platen assembly in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown substituted therein. In effecting such substitution it is necessary merely to lift the machine equipped roller platen out of its place in the carriage and replace it with the instant assembly. Thus, a main support shaft 10 has spacer sleeves 11 and 12 at opposite ends thereof mounted on the shaft and centering bearings 13 which are received'into races in the typewriter carriage in the same manner that corresponding parts of the conventional platen roller shaft are received.

The platen assembly includes spaced apart side frames 14 .and 15 mounted on the shaft 10 and rigidly held apart by interconnecting rods and shafts, to be described. A ratchet wheel 16 is secured to the shaft 10 and is acted upon by a pawl 17 connected through a rock arm 18 and a link 19 to the line space mechanism of the machine. The link 19 is reciprocable under machine actuation, as upon each carriage reciprocation. The arm 18 is rocked thereby in an oscillatory sense and is effective to move the pawl 17 to and fro over the ratchet 16, in the course of which movement the ratchet and shaft 10 to which it is secured are advanced one increment of rotary motion. The arm 18. carries the pawl 17 at one end thereof. The other end of the arm is attached to the link 19. Between its ends the arm 18 is attached to a sleeve 20 rotatably mounted on the shaft 10. The sleeve 20 thus oscillates upon the shaft 10 in response to rocking movements of the arm 18.

The shaft 10 also may be turned by knobs 21 and 22 on the opposite ends thereof, the latter of which is connected in the assembly through an internal shaft 23 and variable 24 and is effective in the usual manner in apparatus of this kind initially to locate the writing line with respect to the platen.

The platen is in the form of a bar 25 extending substantially between the side frames 14 and 15. The front surface of the bar 25, which is generally rectangular in shape, is formed with a ledge 26 at its lower edge undercut to define a channel 27. A platen element 28 has a base portion for positioning in intimate contact with the front surface of the bar 25 and on its opposite side edges are flanges, one of'which is received in the channel 27.

The other flange on element 28 is positioned to be engaged and held by a latch 29 pivotally connected to upstanding brackets 31 on the top edge of the bar 25. On the rearward side of thebar 25 is a series of brackets 32 rotatably mounting a shaft 33. At longitudinally spaced apart points therealong earns 34 are fixed to shaft 33, which cams have high portions arranged to underlie a rearwardly extending part 35 of the latch 29 and so hold the'latch in effective platen locking position as shown in Fig. 11. On one end of the shaft 33 is a lever 36 manipulative to rock the shaft 33 and thereby the cams 34. The high portions of the cams 34 may thus be moved out of cooperative relation with the part 35 of latch 29 and the latch thereby released for opening movement and removal of the platen element 28 as indicated in Fig. 12.

The outer or front surface of the platen element 28 is curved in an arc conforming to the curvature of the platen roller replaced. Such surface, moreover, is overlaid by a relatively soft rubber or rubber-like material 37. The requirements of the work may at some times be such that the impact surface of the platen, as represented by the material 37, be relatively soft and at other times require that such surface be relatively hard. To make such a change one platen element 28 is removed and replaced by another, in the manner described.

A manifold record strip 38 reaches cooperative relation with the platen assembly from the rear thereof, as indicated in Figs. 4 to 7, passing beneath the assembly over friction rolls 39 and 41 secured respectively to shafts 42 and 43 journaled in the side frames 14 and 15 near the bottom edge thereof and below the horizontal plane of the platen bar 25. From the friction rolls 39 and 41, the strip 38 extends over the front of the platen element 28 where it may be struck by type bars 44, the platen element and bar 25 rigidly sustaining the impact of the printing action. Beyond the platen element 28, the strip is guided in a substantially vertical path by guides 45 dependent from a cross bar 46 extending between uprights 47 and 48 on the side frames 14 and 15. The strip is again directed rearwardly over the curved upper ends of the guide arms 45 out of the machine or toward a place of storage.

A shaft 49 is rotatably mounted in the side frames 14 and 15 and at one end projects through the frame 14. The projecting end thereof, as seen in Fig. 1, mounts a gear 51 meshing with a similar gear 52 on the shaft 10. Also on the shaft 49 between the frames 14 and 15, is another gear 53 meshing with a gear 54 on the previously mentioned shaft 42 carrying the friction feed roll 39. Through an idler gear 55 the gear 54 drives another gear 56 made fast to the shaft 43 on which is the friction feed roll 41. The feed rolls 39 and 41 are, through the described construction and arrangement of parts. caused to rotate or to advance in accompaniment with mot-ion of shaft 10. Cooperable with the feed rolls 39 and 41 are friction rolls 57 and 58 carried by a paper pan 59 mounted in underlying relation to the platen assembly as .a part of the conventional machine structure. The strip 38 is guided between the paper pan 59 and the feed rolls 39 and 41, and the pan 59 is adjustable to alternate positions illustrated respectively herein in Figs. 4 and 7. Positioned as in Fig. 4 the paper pan 59 is retracted to what may be considered a non-operating position, being out of cooperative relation with the feed rolls 39 and 41. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 7, the paper pan has in effect been advanced upon the platen assembly and the friction rclls '7 and 58 now resiliently press the strip 38 upon the rolls 39 and 41. As a result, rotation of the friction feed rolls 39 and 41 serves to advance the strip 38 forwardly and upwardly .over the platen element 28.

Also mounted on the shaft 49 between the side frames 14 and-15 is a gear 61 meshing with another gear 62 fast on a shaft 63 also extending between the side frames 14 and 15. In the case of the shaft 63, however, the ends of such shaft have rollers 64 thereon resting on a track 65 on the upper edge of each side frame 14 and 15. At its one end, the track 65 terminates in a recess 66 and at its other end in a hooked recess 67, in the latter of which the shaft 63 is yieldingly held by a spring detent 67 The arrangement is such, it will be understood, that the shaft 63 is bodily shiftable in a to and fro direction between extremes as represented by the recesses 66 and 67.

On the shaft 63 is a pair of pin feeding devices for positive engagement with and advancement of the strip. The pin feeding devices, indicated respectively at 68 and 69, are identical in construction so that a description of one will suffice for both. Thus, each device is mounted between and may be said to include a pair of arms 71 and 72 which at their one ends are pivotally mounted on the shaft 49 and at their other ends have the shaft 63 passed therethrough. Between the arms 71 and 72 are spaced apart discs 73 and 74, the former being concentric to the shaft 63 and having a hub 75 extending through the arm 71 and carrying an adjustable screw stud 76. The tip end of the screw stud 76 is formed as a key 77 and is received in a longitudinal slot or keyway 78 in the shaft 63. Rotation of the shaft 63, through the meshing gears 61 and 62, thus is partaken of by the disc 73 by virtue of engagement of the tip end 77 of the stud 76 in keyway 78. Further, the pressure of the stud 76 upon the surface of shaft 63 serves as a detent holding the disc 73 in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment along the shaft 63. Such position may, of course, be changed by loosening the stud 76, moving the disc 73 and associated parts as may be desired and then retightening the stud upon the shaft.

The disc 74 is in eccentric relation to the shaft 63 and to its companion disc 73, and has the shape of a ring through which the shaft ,63 passes. It is, moreover, rotatably mounted on an eccentric boss formation on a plate 79 on the arm 72. Interposed between the discs 73 and 74 is a series of feeding pins 81 comprising links or base portions .82, and, substantially normal thereto, pin portions 83. Each base portion 82 is connected at its one end to the disc 73 and at its other end to the disc 74, the connections in both instances being pivotal ones. The disc 74 is rotated by the disc 73 through the pins 81 and it will be understood that in the course of such rotation the several pins 81 will maintain the positions illustrated, with the pin portions 83 substantially parallel to one another. The motion of the pin portions 83 of the feeding pins as they approach and enter perforations in the strip 38 is in substantially a straight line, as is the retracting motion relatively to the strip.

The feeding pin devices 68 and 69, since they are mounted on the shaft 63, partake of the previously described bodily shifting motion of the shaft 63 on the track 65. In the forward position of the shaft, whereinfthe rollers 64 lie in recesses 66, the feeding devices may be considered to be in operating position since they lie in position for the feeding pins 81 to engage marginal perforations in the strip. With the shaft retracted so that the rollers 64 lie in hooked recess 67 the pin feeding devices may be considered to occupy a non-operating position since the feeding pins are not able to engage the strip. The pin feeding devices and the friction feed rolls 39 and 41 are normally used selectively or in alternating relation. Thus, the paper pan 59 is adjusted for frictional feeding of the strip when the .pin feeding devices are in the retracted position of Fig. 7 and the pan is adjusted to the ineffective position of Fig. 4 when the pin feeding devices are advanced to strip engaging position.

The side arms 71 and 72 of each pin feeding device are interconnected by tie members 84 which make of the elements 7.1, 72, 73, 74 and 79, as well as the feeding pins 81, a unitary assembly. The platen assembly may further include guide or feed fingers 85 hinged to the respective pin feeding devices and operable to hold the strip in engagement with the feeding pins 81.

Also forming a part of the platen assembly is means for feeding carbon strip or ribbon material 86, such material extending transversely across the front of the assembly in parallel adjacent relation to the impact surface of the platen element 28. The carbon ribbon is or may be in manifold form and is interleaved with the record strip material 38 in such manner as to transfer to underlying copies of the record strip the type impressions made on the overlying strip by the type bar 44.

The carbon strip 86 is led from a spool supported in or near the machine to one side of the platen assembly Where it is passed around roller means 87 on a bracket 88 on the side frame 15. Extending across the front of the platen assembly, the carbon ribbon 86 enters one end of a case 89 mounted on a bracket 91 on the side frame 14. Within the case 89, the carbon strip is passed between gear-like feed rolls 92 and 93 and thence out of the case by way of an opening 94 to another spool or to a place of disposal. The feed rolls 92 and 93 are in side by side relation on respective shafts 95 and 96 rotatably installed in upper and lower Walls of the case 89. The shaft 96 is received in slots 97 and 98 in the 'case 89 for bodily motion toward and from the companion shaft 95. A plate 99 on the upper end of the shaft 96 is arranged to detent in spaced apart recesses 101 in the case 89 and carries a finger grip portion 102 whereby the shaft may be moved to its different detenting positions. A bracket comprising arms 103 and 104 on a shaft 105 assists in maintaining the shaft 96 in an upright position. It will be understood that lateral adjustment of the roller 93 as described is such as to establish a feeding and non-feeding relationship of the elements 92 and 93 relatively to the carbon strip material 86. Thus, in a retracted position of the element 93 the carbon strip material is free for manual insertion or advance between the elements 92 and 93. In the relatively advanced position of the element 93 the carbon strip material is clamped between the elements 92 and 93 and advances in response to rotation thereof.

Such rotary feeding movement of the roll elements 92 and 93 is effected through a ratchet 106 fastened to the underside of the element 92. An actuating lever 107 has one end pivotally connected to the shaft 95 and the other end pivotally connected to the previously mentioned reciprocatory link 19. A pawl 108 is on the lever 107 between the ends thereof and is engageable with the ratchet 106 to advance the ratchet and associated parts an increment of rotary movement for each reciprocating movement of the link 19. A second pawl 109 holds the ratchet 106 from return movement.

Returning now to a consideration of the platen structure, the platen bar 25' is supported between a pair of arms 111 at the one ends of such arms. The opposite ends of the arms 111 are formed with respective rectangular openings 112 through which the shaft and sleeve 20 thereon pass. A recess 113 in the upper rear corner of the opening 112, in each arm 111, receives a finger 114 on the sleeve 20. Oscillation of the sleeve 20, therefore, effects through the finger 114 advance of the arms 111 as shown in Fig. 9 and retracting thereof as shown in Fig. 10. In the Fig. 9 position, the impact surface of the platen element 28 presses against the strip material and holds it in intimate contacting relation to receive the impressions of the type bars. In the Fig. 10 position, the platen surface has been withdrawn from the strip material, permitting a more facile advance of the record strip material 38 by the pin feeding devices and similarly a more facile advance of the carbon strip ribbon 86 by its feeding devices.

The forwardly projecting ends of the arms 111, or those ends engaging the platen bar 25, are relatively .6 unsupported but are dependent from a crank arm 115 extending from and pivotally connected to the side of a crank disc 116. The disc 1 16 has the form of a gear mounted on a stub shaft 117 set in the side frame 15. The disc-gear 116 meshes with another gear 118 made fast on the shaft 10. Since the shaft 10 moves in rotary increments of motion due to reciprocation of the machine actuated link 19, the gear 118 similarly moves and rotates the crank gear 116 to which the arm 115 is connected. According to the construction and arrangement of parts, therefore, one end of the arm 115 moves eccentrically about the axis of the gear 116 in a series of increments of motion, accomplishing an oscillating motion of the arms 111 and platen carried thereby in a corresponding step by step motion. Thus, each time the link 19 reciprocates, the platen is moved a slight amount and the type impressions are made against a different surface on the platen.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting or like machine, a platen, pivotally mounted arms carrying said platen, and intermittently operating machine actuated means for moving said arms in a progressive series of increments of motion accomplishing an oscillation thereof in such manner as to present a different surface of the platen for use on each successive increment of oscillatory movement.

2. In a typewriting or like machine, a bar platen presenting a front impact sustaining surface, a pivotal mounting for said platen providing for bodily shifting motion of said surface, and means for rocking said platen about said mounting in successive increments of motion first in one direction and then the other successively to present different portions of the surface of the platen for use.

3. In a typewriting or like machine, a platen, means defining a writing line passing substantially through the medial horizontal 1 plane of said platen, a support for said platen providing for reciprocatory shifting motion thereof substantially in said writing line and for oscillatory motion thereof through said line, and intermittently operating machine actuated means for moving said platen in both said reciprocatory and oscillatory senses.

4. A typewriting or like machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said last named means includes a crank mechanism moving said platen through a full oscillatory motion in a series of relatively short increments of movement.

5. In a typewriting or like machine, a platen means defining a writing line, a support for said platen providing for reciprocatory motion thereof in said Writing line and oscillatory motion thereof through said line, a common source of actuating movement for moving said platen in both said senses, a connection from said source effecting reciprocatory motion thereof in single to and fro strokes, and a connection from said source effecting oscillatory motion of said platen in a series of relatively small increments of motion.

6. In a typewriting or like machine, a bar platen, a shaft in parallel spaced apart relation to said platen, arms pivotally mounted on said shaft and carrying said platen, said arms being adapted for bodily shifting motion relatively to said shaft in a plane transversely of the longitudinal axis of said shaft, means for reciprocating said arms in said transverse plane, and means for adjusting said arms to a difierent oscillatory position about said shaft for each successive reciprocating movement thereof.

7. In a typewriting or like machine having an intermittently moving machine actuated part, a platen, mounting means therefor providing for freedom of reciprocating movement thereof in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the platen and of oscillating movement, and means operable by said part for moving said platen in both said reciprocating and said oscillating senses.

8. A platen assembly, including relatively stationary side frames, a shaft supported between said side frames, a sleeve rotatable on said shaft, platen supporting arms connected to said sleeve for relative oscillating motion and for reciprocating motion in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said shaft in response to oscillating motion of said sleeve, a platen carried by said arms, means for oscillating said sleeve, and means operable by the last said means for oscillating said arms.

9. A platen assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that said last named means includes a crank disc rotatable in step by step fashion and a crank arm extending from said disc to the assembly comprising said arms and said platen.

10. A platen assembly, including relatively stationary side frames, a platen extending longitudinally between said side frames, strip feeding devices supported between said side frames in substantially overhead relation to said platen for advancing record strip material over said platen in a substantially planar path, means for mounting said platen for bodily shifting motion in an oscillating sense, and means for accomplishing an oscillating movement of said platen in successive relatively small increments of motion.

11. A platen assembly, including relatively stationary References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,972 Slocum Feb. 9, 1886 1,389,237 Block Aug. 30., 1921 1,917,100 Degener July 4, 1933 1,935,677 Terry et al Nov. 21, 1933 

